New York John F. Kennedy International Airport is located 24km (15 miles) southeast of Manhattan.

Airport code

JFK

Airport news

Terminal 4 replaced Terminal 3 as the base for Delta Airlines flights in 2013. Terminal 3 has now closed, and the site is due to be completely redeveloped. The TWA terminal is also due to be redeveloped as a luxury hotel.

Transfer between terminals

The AirTrain JFK provides a free service between all terminals (journey time: 8 minutes) as well as to long-term parking and car hire facilities.

Driving directions

New York John F. Kennedy International Airport is located on Van Wyck Expressway (I-678), which can be accessed from Belt Parkway, Grand Central Parkway and Queens Boulevard.To reach the airport from Manhattan, take the Queens Midtown toll road and continue on to Long Island Expressway (I-495). Then take the exit to Grand Central Parkway (southbound) before merging on to Van Wyck Expressway.From Eastern Long Island, take the Long Island Expressway westbound to the Cross Island Parkway and then merge westbound on to Belt Parkway. Turn off at exit 20 for the airport.From New Jersey, take NJ Turnpike to exit 14C (Holland Tunnel), cross Staten Island on the Staten Island Expressway (I-278) and head east on Belt Parkway.

Car rental

Car hire companies Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise, Hertz, and National are represented at the airport. Booths or courtesy telephones are situated in the baggage claim areas in all terminals.

Public transport and taxis

Bus: MTA New York City Transit (tel: 511; www.mta.info/nyct) buses operate to a number of destinations in Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn and Long Island. Single fares start from US$2.50.Shuttle: The NYC Airporter (tel: (718) 777 5111; www.NYCAirporter.com) departs every half hour for Grand Central and Penn Stations, and the Central Bus Terminal (journey time: 90 minutes; fare: US$16). The Super Shuttle Manhattan (tel: 1 800 258 3826; www.supershuttle.com) runs 24 hours a day and is a shared door-to-door service to any location in Manhattan. A trip to central Manhattan costs around US$19.Taxi: Travellers are advised only to use taxis from the taxi dispatch booths at the airport. Flat fares to Manhattan are US$52 (excluding tolls and tips), and the journey time can vary from 40-100 minutes according to traffic conditions on an average day.Ground transportation information desks are situated in the arrivals areas of all terminals.Rail: The AirTrain JFK light rail system (tel: (718) 535 2478; www.panynj.gov) links JFK airport’s terminals and the region's rail transportation network 24 hours a day. AirTrain JFK connects to New York City Subway’s (tel: 511; www.mta.info/nyct) ‘A’ train at Howard Beach Station, as well as to ‘E’, ‘J’ and ‘Z’ trains at Jamaica Station. Subway fares to Manhattan start at US$2.25 one way and the journey time is 40-50 minutes.The AirTrain JFK also connects to the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) (tel: 511; www.mta.info/lirr) at Jamaica Station. The single fare on the LIRR to New York City is from US$6.50 (when pre-bought at the station) and the journey time is 20 minutes.

Car parking

The airport provides short- and long-term parking facilities. There are car parks in front of each terminal, in the Central Terminal Area (CTA) parking area.The long-term car park is located 6.5km (4 miles) from the terminals, at Lefferts Boulevard. Passengers using the long-term car park should allow for at least 30 minutes to reach the terminal. Call for more parking information (tel: (718) 244 4168). The Howard Beach Station AirTrain JFK connects long-term car parks A and B to Terminal 1 (journey time: 8 minutes).

Information and help desks

Traveler's Aid services are available from the ground transportation counters in each terminal. Airport information on all airport facilities (including parking, lost and found, driving directions and ground transportation) is obtainable from pre-recorded information hotlines (tel: (718) 244 4444).

Airport Facilities

Money: Bureaux de change and ATMs are available in all terminals.Communications: Wireless internet access is available throughout most of the airport, for an hourly fee. A full-service post office (tel: (718) 995 3368) is located at Building 250, on North Boundary Road.Food: There are numerous places to eat and drink throughout the airport. These range from bars and pubs to fast-food outlets, cafés and steakhouses that can be found in the various food courts in the departures areas and in some pre-security locations.Shopping: Plenty of shops, including duty-free outlets, are located throughout the terminals. These include gift shops, designer outlets and bookshops.Luggage: Trolleys are available in all terminals. Luggage storage is offered in Terminals 1 and 4. For lost and found items, contact airport authorities (tel: (718) 244 4225).Other facilities: There is a chapel pre-security in Terminal 4. The airport also has a medical centre, baby change facilities and shoeshine services.

Conference and business facilities

Fax, computer, photocopying and courier services are available within the terminals – contact the relevant Traveler’s Aid desks for further information. Conference facilities can be found at several local hotels, including the Sheraton JFK Airport Hotel (tel: (718) 322 7190; www.starwoodhotels.com).

Disabled facilities

New York John F. Kennedy International Airport is wheelchair-accessible and is well-equipped to accommodate disabled passengers. Disabled toilets can be found in each terminal and TDD telephones are clearly-signposted throughout the terminals. Reserved reduced-rate parking is available in the car parks close to the terminals: passengers should contact the car parks operator for further information (tel: (347) 238 3232). Hand-operated cars can be hired from Avis or Hertz.

Airport hotels

There are numerous hotels close to New York John F. Kennedy International Airport. Most of the local hotels provide a shuttle service to/from the terminals. Hotel reservation services are located in the arrivals area of all terminals in the form of either a staffed desk, which charges a small booking fee, or free courtesy telephones. Our New York John F. Kennedy International Airport guide includes the following hotels:

Best Western Kennedy AirportJust five minutes from John F. Kennedy International Airport by free shuttle transfer, Best Western Kennedy Airport has a business centre and fitness room and offers high-speed internet access.144-25 153rd LaneNew York, United StatesTel: (718) 977 2100.Web: book.bestwestern.com

Comfort Inn JFKClose to the retail opportunities of the Green Acres Mall, the Comfort Inn JFK provides a free shuttle service to/from the airport and Jamaica Station for connections to Manhattan. In-room Wi-Fi is available and guests are given a daily breakfast as part of the room rate.14436 153rd LaneNew York, United StatesTel: (718) 977 0001.Web: www.choicehotels.com.au

Holiday Inn Express Kennedy AirportOperating a free 24-hour shuttle service to and from the AirTrain JFK station, the Holiday Inn Express has a business centre and off-site gym facilities. The budget hotel offers a choice of packed 'to-go' or hot breakfasts.Jamaica, 153-70 South Conduit AvenueNew York, United StatesTel: (718) 977 3100.Web: www.hiexpress.com

Sheraton JFK Airport HotelLocated very close to the terminals, the luxurious Sheraton is a full-service 150-room hotel with meeting facilities and a fitness centre. The hotel also houses an on-site American restaurant that opens from 0600-2300.Jamaica, 132-26 South Conduit AvenueNew York, United StatesTel: (718) 322 7190.Web: www.starwoodhotels.com